Material remover



Sept. 22, 1936. G. A. LANG MATERIAL REMOVER Filed July'5, 1952' 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 22 1936.

G. A. LANG MATERIAL REMOVER Filed July 5, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 2 QwQM 11 Sept. 22, 1936. G. A. LANG MATERIAL REMOVER Filed. July 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 22, 1936 OFFICE MATERIAL REMOVEH.

George vA. Lang, Cicero, Ill." v Application July 5, 1932, Serial No. 620,824

14 Claims.

will appear as the description proceeds.

A complete under-standing of the invention may be had by reference to the following descriptien taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a fragmentary side View, partly in section, illustrating one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view, partly in section, of the excavator apparatus shown-in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an elevator attachment for excavated snow shown secured to the left side of the apparatus, as viewed in Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 of 'Fig. 3;

Fig: 5 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sideview, partly in section, of a modified form of the invention wherein means is included for melting the excavated snow, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, on areduced scale, taken on the line l-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings,

40 wherein the excavator is shown as applied to the handling of snow, .the excavator apparatus is mounted on a rectangular frame orchassis ll built of structural channel members and at the rear end of the frame (Figs. 1, 2 and 7') are three downwardly extending supports l2, to which is suitably secured an axle M on which a wheel [5 is rotatably mounted at each end. Each of the side channels of the frame H has mounted on its upper surface a support 16 to which are socured opposite ends of a fixed axle IT. The axle. ll supports a plurality of radially extending arms 48 (Fig. 1) which are arranged along and below the longitudinal center line of the excavator. The arms i8 are disposed at each side of the apparatus, andat a point intermediate the sides 3 1-9? two groups or arms are arranged adjacent each other (Fig. -2). Gther arms i9 similarly spaced aiong the axle ll of the apparatus as the arms l8 extend vertically from the axle I! to provide a suitable unobstructed passage 20 (Figs. 1 and 5 2) extending-transversely of the apparatus, the purpose of which willbe described hereinafter. The arms -l8 and E9 of each group support at their outerends curved channels 23 providing continuous ring like or annular members surrounding the axle i1, except for the space between the opposed inner surfaces of the vertical arms is toprovide the passage 20. Journaled on the ring like members formed from the curved channels 23 are a plurality of rollers 24 (Figs'l and 2) the rollers being aligned with each of the arms 13 and i9.

A rotary excavating wheel or shovel 25 of a squirrel cag type surrounds the rollers and consists of two similar sectionsfor the purpose of allowing the apparatus to turn corners more readily. Inasmuch as the two sections of the rotary excavating shovel 25 are similar, but one of them "will be described, the same reference characters, however, being applied to the respective parts of bothQEach cage section of the shovel 25 has peripheral side flanges 26 (Fig. 2) providedwith channels *2! on their inner periphcries in which the rollers engage and ride to permit free rotation of the cages: Between the side flanges 26 of the cages and slightly within their outer peripheries are a plurality of similarly spaced excavator or pick up blades 39 built of two sections, which are plane surfaces, except for a groove or depression 3| extending longitudinaily thereof. Intermediate the side flanges 26 or each cage is a stiffening ring 32 to which the two sections of the blades 3t extending therebetween are secured. The purpose of the depression 3i will'be made apparent hereinafter. These pick up blades 30 are narrower'than the side flanges 26 leaving a space within the blades for the collection of snow. The inner limit of thisspace for collecting the snow is substantially defined by the outer periphery of a drum or cylinder 33 formed of a sheet of metal suitably secured to the outer peripheries of the annular channels 23. The cylinder 33 is open at the top (Fig. 1) across the transverse passage 20; for re ceiving the snow as will bemore fully described hereinafter. V r

' Asthe squirrel cage rolls over the ground the weightof the apparatus presses the blades ,30 through the snow and causes the snow to enter. the space between the blades and the outer pe 55 cylinder riphery of the cylinder 33. In order to compress the snow, compressor aprons 34 are hinged to the 33 along a line 35 (Fig. 1), one apron for each cage. The aprons 34 are forced downwardly by a plurality of rollers 31 carried by arms 38 extending through apertures 39 in the cylinder 33. V The arms 38 are secured to rods 48 which are threaded at their lower ends and their upper ends are slidably mounted in downwardly extending .sleeves 4| attached to the fixed axle I1. Threaded collars 44 having handles 45 are mounted on the lower threaded ends of the rods 40 and helical springs 46 are interposed between the sleeves and collars. handles 44 the downward pressure on the rollers 31 may be adjusted to vary the force of the springs 46 against the aprons 34 thereby providing means for compressing the snow as it passes the aprons between the blades 30 and the cyl-,

inder 33'under varying degrees of pressure in accordance with the thickness of the layer of snow to be picked up. In order to prevent the aprons 34 from coming in contact with the blades 38 of the cages the free ends of the aprons are bent upwardly and rearwardly as shown at 41.

This bent portion 41 extends through a longitudinal slot in the cylinder 33 and in its lowermost normal position the rearwardly bent portion lies a inst, the inner wall of the cylinder. It will be noted that the snow or other compressible material during its excavation, will first be compressed as it enters between the blades 38 in the movement. of the excavator and will be further compressed by the compressor aprons 34 as it enters the space between the blades and the cylinder 33. ,Thus as the compressed material, entering the latter space, whichrmaterial is a major portion of the excavated material, is carried upwardly between the blades 30 and the outer 4 1) which is suitably spaced from ripheral edges of the blades 30.

pered end of the plowshare 48 is-disposed close to the ground while the upper edge of the arcuate end of the frame II by three periphery of the cylinder 33, it is spaced from the 4 cylinder, the material in this space being carried upwardly by its adhesion to the material locked between the blades.

For the purpose of assisting the pickup blades 36 to retain the snow compressed into an adhesive mass during the movement of the blades upwardly, at the rear of apparatus, there is provided a curved and tapered plowshare like member 48 fixed to rods5| and an arcuate section 52 (Fig.

the outer pe- The lower tasection 52 extends to the height of. the axle I1. This arcuate section 52 is supportedon the rear pairs of forwardly extending arms 53 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) each pair comprising lower and upper arms which are secured to ribs 54 positioned directly behind the supports l2 as viewed in Figs. 2 and 7, the ribs being secured to the arcuate section 52. Secured to and extending between the lower ends of the ribs 54 is an angle iron 55 provided with aperthe rods 5| are helical springs 59 which abut tureis through which the rods 5| carrying the plowshare 48 extend, Theserods 5| continue upwardly and rearwardly and pass through apertures in' lateral extending plates 58 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to the lower'arms 53. Surrounding against the lateral plates 58 at one end while lars 60 secured to the rods 5| soas .to holdthe share 46. resiliently in place. The arcuate section 52 "is further reinforced by ribs 6| at each end (Figs. 2 andfl);

blades 36 a scraper 62 (Fig. 1) provided on the Y forward side of the passage 26 positively directs the snow into the cylinder 33. The purpose of resiliently mounting the curved plowshare 48 is to Thus by rotating the permit it to yield in case the lower edge thereof a manhole cover, in the street or road. It will be apparent that the longitudinal grooves 3| in the blades 36 will also serve to retain the snow picked up by the blades in the pockets formed between adjacent blades, the grooves forming locking ribs in the snow pressed into the space between the blades. 7

Within the cylinder. 33 is an endless conveyor, indicated generally by the numeral 64, for carrying the snow laterally from the cylinder to either side thereof. The sides of the conveyor 64 are enclosed by two vertical plates 65, the ends of which extend laterally beyond the sides of the excavating shovel 25 and are provided with journals for rotatably supporting shafts 66 and 61, a pair of which are at each side of the apparatus. Theshaft 66 at the left side of the apparatus, as viewed in Fig. 2, extends rearwardly and is driven by a suitable motor indicated in dotted outline at .68 which is connected to the shaft by gearing indicated by the numeral 69. The motor 68 includes a reversing mechanism for driving the conveyor 64 in either direction, the motor being mounted on the rear end of the frame H. Details of the motor 68 and the reversing mechanism have been omitted from the drawings, since they form no part of this invention and are not necessary to an understanding thereof. This last mentioned shaft 66 has a pair of gears 16-16"secured thereto which mesh with a pair ofgears 1 1| secured to the shaft 61 for driving this shaft. This driven shaft 61 has secured thereto a pair of sprocket wheels 1212 around which endless conveyor chains 13 pass to similar sprocket wheels on the other side of the apparatus. Extending between and secured to the inner sides of the conveyor chains 13 is a flexible floor 14 for the conveyor provided with a plurality of spaced blades. In order to assist the conveyor chains 13 and the attached floor 14 to support the weight of the snow a plurality of rollers 15 are rotatably supported under the conveyor floor 14. These rollers 15 are journaled in angle members 16 which are supported on channel members 11 supported between the vertical arms l9 at opposite sides of the passage 20.

'A chute 18 is removably and adjustably positioned at each end of the conveyor 64 outside the sides of the shovel so that the snow delivered by the conveyor 64 may be discharged to either side of theroad as circumstances may require and to various distances from'the sides of the shovel. The side walls of the chutes 18 are provided with bifurcated portions 19 (Fig. 2) which straddle the shafts 61 at a point just outside the plates thus permitting the chutes to be readily removed or placed in operative position as desired. For holding the chutes 18 in a desired adjusted position the plates 65 are provided with a series of apertures 80 arranged on a line concentric with the axis of the shafts through iwhich extend bolts 8I .mounted in apertures in the sidewalls of the chute. I I g.

In cases where the snow is too heavy to be completely removed bya-single passageof the excavator apparatus a suitable deflector or plow 83 may be attached to the front of the frame I I to move aportion of the snow before the excavating shovel 25 passes thereover. The plow83' is adjustablysecured to the frame II by bolts 89 so that it may be raised orlowered in accordance with the depth of the snow.

A suitable eyeor hook B5 is secured to the forward end of the frame II (Fig. 1) for coupling the excavator apparatus to a tractor or other pulling means. for drawing the apparatus along the ground.

In cases where itis necessary to deposit the excavated snow, conveyed to either side of the apparatus by the conveyor 64, into trucks traveling alongside the apparatus; an elevator 81 (Fig; 3) may be attached to the particular side of the apparatus. The elevator 81 is designed to be removably attached to the two vertical side plates 65 of the conveyor 94 by means of substantially the same type as that described hereinbefore to secure the removable and adjustable chutes I8 to the plates, the chute being removed when the elevator is to be attached. The elevator attachment 8? comprises a housing 89 with an angularly disposed spout or chute portion .89 at its upper end. The side walls of the elevator attachment, which are attachedto the conveyor side plates 65, are horizontally slotted for receiving the shafts 66 and 61 when securing the same to the side plates. The mentioned side walls of the attachment are provided with journals for rotatably supporting shafts 92,- 93 and 94. Secured to the shaft 92 at each end thereof outside the side walls of the attachment are gears 95 which mesh with aligned gears 99 (Figs. 3 and 5) secured to opposite ends of the shaft 6'! of the conveyor 64.- The gears 95 meshwith gears 99 aligned therewith and secured to the shaft 93. Fixed to each of the shafts 93 and 94 is a pair of sprocket wheels I00 and IM around which endless conveyor chains I02 pas-s. ,Pivotally secured to the inner sides of the conveyor chains I02 are a plurality of rectangular shaped blades I03 (Figs. 4 and 5) which have operatively connected there: to at each end a pair of guiderollers I04 engaging in guide channels I01 suitably arranged onthe walls of the housing and on a wall I I08 dividing the housing into two compartments, one for the loaded vertically moving blades I03 and an: other for the blades after they have deposited their load into the chute portion 89 and are moving downwardly. The wall I08 primarily serves to retain the snow deposited on the blades I03 during their upward movement. In the operation of the excavator apparatus and with the elevator 81 attached to the left side of the apparatus (Figs. 2 and 3) and with the horizontal conveyor 64 travelingin the direction indicated by the arrow it will be apparent through the train of gears 96, and 99, the gears 96 receiving motion from the shaft 61, that the right hand portions of the elevator conveyor chains I02 will travel upwardly and consequently the snow deposited, on the attached blades I03 from the horizontal conveyor 64 will be deposited in the chute 89 and fall therefrom by gravity into the truck traveling with the excavator apparatus. The operation of theelevator 81 when attached to the right side of the apparatus after the reversing mechanism (not shown) .has..been operated to cause the horizontal conveyor 64 to travel toward the right side of the apparatus is accomplished. inthe same manner as that described above. in connection with the elevator when attached to the left side of the apparatus.

I Suitably supported upon the frame II and disposed above and adjacent the periphery of the wheel or shovel 25 and extending entirely across the width ofthe shovel is a header H9 from which. project aplurality of nozzles III (Figs; 1 and 2) p The header is connected to-a plurality of pipes IIZ which are connected to a suitable source of fluid under pressure such as air or Water (not shown), which may be carried on the frame II of the apparatus. The purpose of the nozzles from which jets of fluid under pressure may be emitted, as desired, is to blow from the shovel 25 the snow locked in the pockets formed between the pick-up blades 30 as they pass the nozzles onto the conveyor .69, the' blown snow passing through an opening II3 formed in the scraper 62. I This serves to clean the blades 39 of snow and thereby provides increased capacity for picking up snow of agreater depth from the ground, thus increasing the efficiency of the apparatus. If the layer of snow on the ground is not very deep the operation of the jets from the nozzles III can be dispensed with and the snow permitted to. remain locked between the pickup blades 30 and subsequently be pushed intothe space between the blades and the outer periphery of the cylinder 33 at the point where the shovel 25 passes over the snow on the ground.

In a modified form (Figs. 6 and '7) of the ex cavator apparatus of this invention, hereinbefore described, an oven H8 is installed in the passage 20 above the axle I1 and between the vertical arms I9. 'The oven l I5 is provided with side and end walls and anupper curved wall, just inside the inner edges of the pickup blades 30, which include a thickness of refractory materiaL- the walls being built around the side flanges 29 and the channels 2? of the rotatable squirrel cages of the shovel 25. I The upper right hand corner of the oven I IB (Fig. 6) is provided with an opening II? for receiving thev excavated snow which falls by gravity from the blades 30, as the blades carry the snow past the opening in the top portion of the inner cylinder 33, into the oven. An outer edge of the upper curved wall of the oven H6 at the upper end of the opening I I7 serves to scrape from the blades 30 any snow adhering to the lower edges of the blades as they travel past the opening. The snow as it falls into the oven H6 is melted by jets of flame, from gas or oil burners II 8, directed into the oven from opposite ends thereof, three burners being arranged at each end. The burners I I8 may be supplied with gas or oil from. a suitable supply source mounted on the frame II of the apparatus. An inverted V-shaped grille plate. I I9 is disposed between the jets of flame from the two pairs of upper burners H8 and the two lower burners for receiving the snow which is not melted in passing the jets .of flame, the snow so received then being melted by the jets'of flames from the lower burners. The water from the melted snow passes through asieve I20 and into a catch basin I2I at the bottom .of the oven structure. Opposite ends of the catch basin I2 I, which are disposed at the sides of the excavatorapparatus, have connected thereto interconnected similar drain pipes I22 and a removable spout I23 so that the waterf from the catchbasin may be directed to the groiind directapparatus or by meansof the spout directed to either side of the road as desired.

A means substantially similar to that hereinbefore described for blowing the snow locked between the pickup blades 30' at the topof the shovel'25 may be used in connection with the last described type of excavator which includes the oven H6. 1 Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, an opening I24 is provided in the upper wall of the oven I I6 for the passage of the snow blown from the nozzles HI. disposed adjacent the periphery of the shovel 25. f

As the apparatus is drawn along the ground the squirrel cages of the shovel 25 roll freely and independently of each other on the rollers 24 carried by the arms l8 and I9 secured to the fixed axle l1 and in the manner hereinbefore described the snow is excavamd from' the layer thereof on the ground or road and deposited at either side of the road or line of travel of the apparatus or into a truck traveling alongside the apparatus in one embodiment of the apparatus or melted and drained to either side of the road in the second embodiment of the apparatus.

Although the invention as herein illustrated and described is particularly well adapted 'for use in connection with the removal of snow from the street or other surface and depositing it at various distances from the line of travel of the apparatus or in trucks traveling alongside thereof, it should be understood that the novel features'thereof are capable of handling other materials than snow and should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I 'What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a movable excavator, an excavator wheel having a plurality of excavator blades fixed relative to said wheel, a drum within said blades and forming an annular space between the blades and the drum for receiving material moved radially thereinto from between said blades, means for mounting said wheel for rotation toconvey material in said space, and means for causing said materials to be discharged into said drum.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stationary drum, an excavator wheel disposed concentrically about said drum and leaving a space around said drum for receiving material, said wheel having radial flanges, blades disposed transversely between said flanges for excavating material, and meansdisposed at the rear side of said wheel for retaining the excavated material on the wheel as it moves upwardly.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stationary drum, open at the top, an excavator wheel rotatably disposed about said drum'and leaving a space around the drum, means for compressing the material being excavated in said space, and means'for discharging said material into the open top of the drum.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a fixed axle, annular members extending about said axle; a plurality of arms interconnecting said annular members with the axle,'a drum secured to said annular members and being open at the top, a plurality of rollers carried by said annular members and extending through said drum, and an excavator wheel rotatably mounted on said rollers for elevating materials and discharging them into the drum.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable excavator wheel having a plurality of excavator blades fixed relative to said 1y adjacent the line. of travel of the excavator wheel, said wheel being rotated solely by the movementof the apparatus, an endless conveyor movable laterally and disposed within said wheel, a pair of walls adjacentsaid conveyor forming a conveyor channel, means for driving said conveyor, and means for directing materials from said wheel into said channel onto said conveyor.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a drum, an excavator wheel rotatable about the drum and having blades spaced from the drum to provide a free space for receiving materials, a compressor for the materials in said space, and means for adjusting the pressure exerted by the compressor.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a drum, an excavator wheel having a plurality of excavator blades fixed relative to said wheel, said wheel being rotatable about said drum solely by the movement of 'the apparatus, a pair of supports extending axially within the drum, a plurality of rollers journalled in said supports, and a conveyor movable over said rollers to convey materials delivered to the drum laterally from the drum.

i 8. In a movable excavator, an excavator element having a plurality of blades adapted to pick up and retain material therebetween during movement of theexcavator element, means for compressing the material during its pickup, means within said blades, open at its top, for receiving material from between the blades, and means arranged outside of the excavator element for effecting the removal of the material from between the blades to cause it to move into the open top of the material receiving means.

9. In a movable excavator, an excavator wheel having a plurality of blades adapted to pick up and retain material therebetween during movement of the wheel, a drum within and spaced from said blades to provide an open space for receiving material, said drum being open at its top, for receiving material from between the blades and said space, and means for directing fluid under pressure against the material retained by the blades to cause it to move into the open top of the drum.

10. In a movable excavator, an excavator wheel having a plurality of excavator blades formed with longitudinally extending'depressions for retaining material received between the blades during movement of the wheel.

11. In a movable excavator, an excavator wheel having'a plurality of excavator blades, a drum having an opening for receiving material arranged within said blades and forming an annular space between the blades and the drum for receiving material moved radially thereinto from between said blades, means for rotatably supporting said wheel about said drum, and stationary means within said space for causing said materials to be discharged therefrom into said drum. i r r 12. An apparatus of 'the class described comprising a drum, an excavator member rotatable about the drum and having blades spaced from the drum to provide a free space for receiving materials, a yieldable element hinged to said drum for compressing the materials in said space, and means carried within said drum and operatively engaging said compressing element through an opening provided in said drum for adjusting the pressure exerted by the compressing element.

13. In a movable excavator, a movable excavator member having a plurality of material excavating elements, means spaced from said elements and forming a limited space within said elements for receiving material from between said elements, and means for compressing the said material in said space as it is received therein for causing the same to be carried upwardly in the movement of said excavator member by its adhesion to the material between said elements.

14. In a movable excavator, an excavator wheel having a plurality of excavator blades spaced short distances apart, said blades alone being effectivein the movement of the wheel to excavate material, said blades being formed with depressions efiective for retaining material received between said blades during movement of the wheel.

GEORGE A. LANG. 

